Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-04-02
THE ACROBAT.

The young man rose up quickly from
the carpet on which he had been kneel-
ing
Dora, take care he cried. You
know how much | think Of you. Do not
push me too far
The young woman simply shrugged her
shoulders, as she remained calmly seated
upon the sofa.
$50 you threaten me now. The last
straw! And by what right:"
by the right you gave me in allowing
me to believe you loved me for six months
past"
And if l allowed you TO think so, you
big fool, it was perhaps because did "
But now | am TO understand you dc
noty' the young man asked, through his
set teeth"
You must suppose. No, see here,
Mario. let Us have an end Of this non
sense Let IL end it right now-once and
for all. That will he the best thing fol
both OF us You talking about rights.
gave YOU none. Chance brought us to-
gether at Vienna, in the same circus, as
rope dancer and You As clown. A mere
chance Well, found You were nice
fellow; | liked you, perhaps it was foolish
of me. Now Won want this thing To last
forever-always, always the same non
sense All. no, no,--no more of it for me
Now, because we happen TO tind ourselves
together in Paris, see 10 reason why We
should have 10 remain fctter,d To one an
other like two conVictS. l have had
enough OF the chain. II it W.. even gold
chain il might bc less UnattraCtive. But
Ihayc found . chain Of just that sort Of
fortune TO n1Kr, .,rrcf, i, ! h,lye my
fortune l can't all low myself 10 hesitate u
moment. Il like You; but l like 100000
francs of income great deal better. ]
tell you 50 frankly: and | must also tell
You frankly everything is over between
as. Come let Us shake hands and say no
more ahour il.
Mario remained motionlCSs before her
a fine looking young man, whose athletic
figure, robust and graceful, showed TO ad
vantage in the Paris suit he wore. He
remained staring nj her silently, looking
straight into her eyes, as if struggling
with himself Ia repress a furious impulse
TO stranCle her then and there, an impulse
which betrayed itself in the flash Of his
black eyes.
That is your final resolves" he asked,
with a painful effort.
That is all have 10 say to YOU"
Dora, ! beg Of you"-
There now | trust You are not going
TO begin again. Go now-go, and don't
come here again! Co.
As the door slammed after him, the
clown shook his fist at it.
Eleven O'Clock. The Cirque d Automme
is all aflaIne with li.;hts. \ flutter of i'm
patience visibly passes through the circle
OF seats, an a blossom with bright toilets
Pretty gloyed hands nervously crumple
up programmes Every one is waiting for
Miss Dora's performance.
Fifty feet above the ground without a
pole: That viii Ire worth seeing
And without any nett
"Why. that is crazy! Why Is there NO
nettng"'
''Oh, just 10 keep up the emotion, my
dear. No danger, no emotion. Why.
what would be the effect with a Rst: As
well have lion tanner 5 lions all muz
zled."
Yes, but this is terrible. If she were
TO fall.'
Miss Dora never falls. She exhibited
last year in Vienna: and has been perform.
ing here for a whole month. You never
think about the danger after you once see
her begin-she appears 10 do it so easily.
It's really wonderful. Look there she
isr'
Miss Dora has suddenly made her ap-
pearance, aliThting with bound in the
center of the arena, light and nimble as
bird, her 1.-THE and slender figure arra;ed
in pink silk tights. \ murmur Of ad-
miration runs through the circus, and a
vast circle Of opera glasses flash upon her
in ring. The tight rope dancer bows
l,f, ln-
limbs, showing a fine double row of white |
teeth as she smiles upon the audience |
Then, stepping ten PAGES back, and catch
ing rope hanging before the stable en-
trance, she commences to ascend slowly
and easily-hand over hand.
Now she IL upon her wire. leaning
against the double ropes which form the !
termination Of the apparatus. moment
she remains thus. smiling down upon the |
sea Of faces watching her from below |
Then she puts one foot forward and
strokes tie wire with the sole If her slip .
per. In another moment she will begin |
In the middle ul the arena three clowns .
are performing 4 series of tumbling feats /
At each somcrsault ell fall upon their feet
at precisely the same time. Two have .
tumbled head over heels as far rs the .
entry, seeming al every moment TO dis /
locate themselves, putting their gro
teslucly painted faces between their legs |
The third one stands still. looking UP al |
the rope dancer rs she makes her frs, |
step. What is he going to do' Some (
thing supTemcly absurd. no doubt Nc
use looking UP there, old fellow; her
smiles are not for you.
Mario seems to be IA very conscientious
fellow. No one i looking AT him: but he
goes on with his performance all the same
Now he is there in the middle of the !
arena, trembling ia every limb. What a
farce. She is the one who is doing the
dangerous featS. and he is the one who
does the trembling. But that is old, my
friend-a played ont sort of farce! one
would have expected something better
from clown of such widespread reputa-
ton Resides. Won don't even vary your